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South African authorities have disputed reports that Nigerian singer Ayra Starr and members of her entourage were refused entry visas, with the South African Consul-General in Nigeria, Prof Bobby Moroe, stating that immigration records show no trace of any such application or denial.
Moroe has asked those pushing the allegation to come forward with the names and visa reference numbers of those affected, so the mission can look into the matter.
The dispute follows public pressure from figures including former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who want Nigeria to impose matching visa restrictions on South African performers if Ayra Starr’s case is confirmed.
Reports had earlier claimed the singer and her crew were blocked from entering South Africa in February 2024, ahead of scheduled shows in Johannesburg and Cape Town. Event organiser Steyn Entertainment blamed the cancellations on visa refusals at the time and promised refunds to ticket buyers. Moroe insists his office never received any application to review.
Tyla Pulls Out of Lagos Leg
In a separate but related development, South African artiste Tyla has scrapped a planned Lagos stop from her global tour, just days after confirming it. The reversal follows online criticism accusing her of staying silent on attacks targeting Nigerians in South Africa, including the killing of Nigerian citizen Chika Ibe in Cape Town.
Campaigners in Nigeria had pushed to have her show blocked altogether, with a petition against her Lagos performance drawing thousands of signatures. Her team has not commented publicly on the decision, though tour records confirm the Lagos date is gone while other international stops remain unchanged.
The fallout has stirred anger online, with users from both countries exchanging threats and calls for retaliatory action against citizens living abroad.
Diplomats Weigh In
Former Nigerian diplomat Rasheed Akinkuolie called the cancellation an unsurprising outcome of the strained relationship between both nations, urging South Africa to pay compensation to Nigerians affected by the xenophobic violence. He added that Nigeria may join Ghana and Zimbabwe in seeking legal action at the International Criminal Court.
Moroe, addressing the Tyla situation separately, said no formal complaint had reached his office from her team, and insisted relations between both governments remain stable, pointing to a recent high-level meeting as proof of continued cooperation.
The Nigerian government, meanwhile, has renewed calls for South Africa to activate a bilateral early-warning system meant to prevent future attacks, maintaining that compensation for victims remains a firm demand. This comes as a Nigerian delegation returns to Pretoria for continued talks, following earlier tension after President Tinubu initially declined to meet a visiting South African delegation before a phone call between both presidents led to renewed engagement.
